80 FR 28850 - Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products and Certain Commercial and Industrial Equipment: Test Procedures for Consumer and Commercial Water Heaters
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 97 (May 20, 2015)
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 97 (May 20, 2015)
| Page Range | 28850-28851 | |
| FR Document | 2015-12221 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 97 (Wednesday, May 20, 2015)] [Proposed Rules] [Pages 28850-28851] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-12221] ======================================================================== Proposed Rules Federal Register ________________________________________________________________________ This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules. ======================================================================== Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 97 / Wednesday, May 20, 2015 / Proposed Rules [[Page 28850]] DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 10 CFR Parts 429, 430, and 431 [Docket Number EERE-2015-BT-TP-0007] RIN 1904-AC91 Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products and Certain Commercial and Industrial Equipment: Test Procedures for Consumer and Commercial Water Heaters AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of Energy. ACTION: Reopening of the public comment period and announcement of public meeting. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: On April 14, 2015, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) published in the Federal Register a notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR) that proposes mathematical conversion factors for converting from the current efficiency metrics (i.e., energy factor for residential water heaters, and thermal efficiency and standby loss for commercial water heaters) to the uniform efficiency descriptor (i.e., uniform energy factor metric). The comment period for the NOPR pertaining to the test procedures for water heaters was scheduled to end May 14, 2015. After receiving a request for additional time to comment for stakeholders, DOE is reopening the comment period for the NOPR for the Conversion Factor for Test Procedures for Consumer and Certain Commercial Water Heaters to June 15, 2015. Additionally, at the request of stakeholders, DOE is announcing a public meeting to discuss the conversion factors for consumer and commercial water heaters. DATES: Comments: The comment period for the NOPR for the Conversion Factor for Test Procedures for Consumer and Certain Commercial Water Heaters published on April 14, 2015 (80 FR 20116), is reopened. DOE will accept comments, data, and information regarding this NOPR before and after the public meeting, but no later than June 15, 2015. Meeting: DOE will hold a public meeting on Thursday, May 28, 2015 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., in Washington, DC. The meeting will also be broadcast as a webinar. ADDRESSES: Meeting: The meeting will be held at the U.S. Department of Energy, 950 L'Enfant Plaza, Room 7140, 950 L'Enfant Plaza, Washington, DC 20585. If you plan to attend the public meeting, please notify Ms. Brenda Edwards at (202) 586-2945 or [email protected]. For further details, see the ``Public Participation'' section near the end of this document. Comments: All comments submitted must identify the NOPR for the Conversion Factor for Test Procedures for Consumer and Certain Commercial Water Heaters, and provide docket number EERE-2015-BT-TP- 0007 and/or RIN 1904-AC91. Interested persons are encouraged to submit comments using the Federal eRulemaking Portal at www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. Alternatively, interested persons may submit comments by any of the following methods:Email: [email protected]. Include the docket number and/or RIN in the subject line of the message. Submit electronic comments in WordPerfect, Microsoft Word, PDF, or ASCII file format, and avoid the use of special characters or any form of encryption. Postal Mail: Ms. Brenda Edwards, U.S. Department of Energy, Building Technologies Office, Mailstop EE-5B, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121. If possible, please submit all items on a compact disc (CD), in which case it is not necessary to include printed copies. Hand Delivery/Courier: Ms. Brenda Edwards, U.S. Department of Energy, Building Technologies Office, 950 L'Enfant Plaza SW., 6th Floor, Washington, DC 20024. Telephone: (202) 586-2945. If possible, please submit all items on a CD, in which case it is not necessary to include printed copies. No telefacsimilies (faxes) will be accepted. For detailed instructions on submitting comments and additional information on the rulemaking process, see section V (Public Participation) of the April 14, 2015 NOPR for the Conversion Factor for Test Procedures for Consumer and Certain Commercial Water Heaters. 80 FR 20116. Docket: The docket is available for review at www.regulations.gov, including Federal Register notices, comments, and other supporting documents/materials. All documents in the docket are listed in the www.regulations.gov index. However, not all documents listed in the index may be publicly available, such as information that is exempt from public disclosure. A link to the docket Web page can be found at: http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=EERE-2015-BT-TP-0007. This Web page contains a link to the docket for this notice of proposed rulemaking on the www.regulations.gov site. The www.regulations.gov Web page contains simple instructions on how to access all documents, including public comments, in the docket. See section V, ``Public Participation,'' of the April 14, 2015 NOPR for information on how to submit comments through www.regulations.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Ashley Armstrong, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Building Technologies Office, EE-5B, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121. Telephone: (202) 586-6590. Email: [email protected]. Mr. Eric Stas, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of the General Counsel, GC-33, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585- 0121. Telephone: (202) 586-9507. Email: [email protected]. For information on how to submit a comment, to review other public comments and the docket, or to attend the public meeting, contact Ms. Brenda Edwards at (202) 586-2945 or by email: [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 (EPCA), as amended by the American Energy Manufacturing Technical Corrections Act (AEMTCA), Public Law 112-210, requires that DOE establish a uniform efficiency descriptor and accompanying test methods for covered residential water heaters and commercial water heating equipment within one year of the enactment of AEMTCA. (42 U.S.C. 6295(e)(5)(B)) Further, beginning one year after the [[Page 28851]] date of publication of DOE's final rule establishing the uniform descriptor, EPCA requires that the efficiency standards for covered water heaters to be denominated according to the uniform efficiency descriptor established in the final rule (42 U.S.C. 6295(e)(5)(D)) and that DOE develop a mathematical conversion factor for converting the measurement of efficiency for covered water heaters from the test procedures and metrics currently in effect to the new uniform energy descriptor. (42 U.S.C. 6295(e)(5)(E)(i)-(ii)). On July 11, 2014, DOE published a final rule amending the test procedure for residential and certain commercial water heaters that satisfied the AEMTCA requirements to develop a uniform efficiency descriptor to replace the existing energy factor, thermal efficiency, and standby loss metrics. 79 FR 40542. Use of the amended test procedure is required beginning on July 13, 2015, for new testing. All representations must be based on the amended test procedure as of one year after the publication of a final rule that establishes a mathematical conversion factor. On April 14, 2015, DOE published a NOPR proposing mathematical conversion factors for converting from the current efficiency metrics (i.e., energy factor for residential water heaters, and thermal efficiency and standby loss for commercial water heaters) to the uniform efficiency descriptor (i.e., uniform energy factor metric). 80 FR 20116 (April 14, 2015). In response to the NOPR for the Conversion Factor for Test Procedures for Consumer and Certain Commercial Water Heaters, the Air- Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) requested a 60-day extension to the comment period, a public meeting, and a delay in compliance date for the test procedure. AHRI stated in its request that it needed additional time to analyze the specific conversion factors and underlying analysis, review the water heater tests conducted by DOE to assess to what extent those tests reflected the range of models covered by the test procedure, and evaluate the validity of the conclusions derived from the testing conducted by DOE as provided in the conversion factors and translated energy conservation standards. After careful consideration of this request, DOE has determined that extending the public comment period by reopening to allow additional time for interested parties to submit comments and that convening a public meeting are appropriate based on the foregoing reasons. Accordingly, DOE is granting approximately 30- day comment period extension and announcing a public meeting. In this document, DOE is reopening the comment period for the NOPR for the Conversion Factor for Test Procedures for Consumer and Certain Commercial Water Heaters to midnight of June 15, 2015 and will deem any comments received by that time to be timely submitted. Also, DOE will host a public meeting on Thursday, May 28, 2015. Additional details on the public meeting are provided in the DATES and ADDRESSES sections of this document. DOE is not extending the compliance dates, which were set by statute based on the completion of various rulemakings. The test method will have been final for a year, and manufacturers should be able to test any new basic models using that test method. Furthermore, because the energy conservation standards for residential water heaters changed earlier this year, DOE expects that very few, new basic models will be introduced in the interim between July 13, 2015, and when the conversion factor final rule is effective. Public Participation All participants will undergo security processing upon building entry. Any participant with a laptop computer or similar device (e.g., tablets), must undergo additional screening. Note that any foreign national who requests to participate in the public meeting is subject to advance security screening prior to the date of the public meeting, and such persons should contact Ms. Brenda Edwards as soon as possible at (202) 586-2945 to commence the necessary procedures. Due to the REAL ID Act implemented by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), there have been recent changes regarding identification (ID) requirements for individuals wishing to enter Federal buildings from specific States and U.S. territories. As a result, driver's licenses from the following States or territory will not be accepted for building entry, and instead, one of the alternate forms of ID listed below will be required. DHS has determined that regular driver's licenses (and ID cards) from the following jurisdictions are not acceptable for entry into DOE facilities: Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Oklahoma, and Washington. Acceptable alternate forms of Photo-ID include: U.S. Passport or Passport Card; an Enhanced Driver's License or Enhanced ID-Card issued by the States of Minnesota, New York or Washington (Enhanced licenses issued by these States are clearly marked Enhanced or Enhanced Driver's License); a military ID or other Federal government-issued Photo-ID card. In addition, you can attend the public meeting via webinar. Webinar registration information, participant instructions, and information about the capabilities available to webinar participants at: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7036563622426238210 Participants are responsible for ensuring their systems are compatible with the webinar software. Issued in Washington, DC, on May 12, 2015. Kathleen B. Hogan, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. [FR Doc. 2015-12221 Filed 5-19-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
![28850
Proposed Rules Federal Register
Vol. 80, No. 97
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER public meeting, but no later than June Conversion Factor for Test Procedures
contains notices to the public of the proposed 15, 2015. for Consumer and Certain Commercial
issuance of rules and regulations. The Meeting: DOE will hold a public Water Heaters. 80 FR 20116.
purpose of these notices is to give interested meeting on Thursday, May 28, 2015 Docket: The docket is available for
persons an opportunity to participate in the from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., in review at www.regulations.gov,
rule making prior to the adoption of the final including Federal Register notices,
rules.
Washington, DC. The meeting will also
be broadcast as a webinar. comments, and other supporting
ADDRESSES: Meeting: The meeting will documents/materials. All documents in
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY be held at the U.S. Department of the docket are listed in the
Energy, 950 L’Enfant Plaza, Room 7140, www.regulations.gov index. However,
10 CFR Parts 429, 430, and 431 950 L’Enfant Plaza, Washington, DC not all documents listed in the index
20585. If you plan to attend the public may be publicly available, such as
[Docket Number EERE–2015–BT–TP–0007] information that is exempt from public
meeting, please notify Ms. Brenda
RIN 1904–AC91 Edwards at (202) 586–2945 or Brenda. disclosure.
Edwards@ee.doe.gov. For further A link to the docket Web page can be
Energy Conservation Program for found at: http://www.regulations.gov/#
details, see the ‘‘Public Participation’’
Consumer Products and Certain !docketDetail;D=EERE-2015-BT-TP-
section near the end of this document.
Commercial and Industrial Equipment: 0007. This Web page contains a link to
Comments: All comments submitted
Test Procedures for Consumer and the docket for this notice of proposed
must identify the NOPR for the
Commercial Water Heaters rulemaking on the www.regulations.gov
Conversion Factor for Test Procedures
AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and for Consumer and Certain Commercial site. The www.regulations.gov Web page
Renewable Energy, Department of Water Heaters, and provide docket contains simple instructions on how to
Energy. number EERE–2015–BT–TP–0007 and/ access all documents, including public
or RIN 1904–AC91. Interested persons comments, in the docket. See section V,
ACTION: Reopening of the public
are encouraged to submit comments ‘‘Public Participation,’’ of the April 14,
comment period and announcement of
using the Federal eRulemaking Portal at 2015 NOPR for information on how to
public meeting.
www.regulations.gov. Follow the submit comments through
SUMMARY: On April 14, 2015, the U.S. instructions for submitting comments. www.regulations.gov.
Department of Energy (DOE) published Alternatively, interested persons may FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
in the Federal Register a notice of submit comments by any of the Ms. Ashley Armstrong, U.S. Department
proposed rulemaking (NOPR) that following methods: of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency
proposes mathematical conversion • Email: ConsumerCommWaterHtrs and Renewable Energy, Building
factors for converting from the current 2015TP0007@ee.doe.gov. Include the Technologies Office, EE–5B, 1000
efficiency metrics (i.e., energy factor for docket number and/or RIN in the Independence Avenue SW.,
residential water heaters, and thermal subject line of the message. Submit Washington, DC 20585–0121.
efficiency and standby loss for electronic comments in WordPerfect, Telephone: (202) 586–6590. Email:
commercial water heaters) to the Microsoft Word, PDF, or ASCII file Ashley.Armstrong@ee.doe.gov.
uniform efficiency descriptor (i.e., format, and avoid the use of special Mr. Eric Stas, U.S. Department of
uniform energy factor metric). The characters or any form of encryption. Energy, Office of the General Counsel,
comment period for the NOPR • Postal Mail: Ms. Brenda Edwards, GC–33, 1000 Independence Avenue
pertaining to the test procedures for U.S. Department of Energy, Building SW., Washington, DC 20585–0121.
water heaters was scheduled to end May Technologies Office, Mailstop EE–5B, Telephone: (202) 586–9507. Email: Eric.
14, 2015. After receiving a request for 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Stas@hq.doe.gov.
additional time to comment for Washington, DC 20585–0121. If For information on how to submit a
stakeholders, DOE is reopening the possible, please submit all items on a comment, to review other public
comment period for the NOPR for the compact disc (CD), in which case it is comments and the docket, or to attend
Conversion Factor for Test Procedures not necessary to include printed copies. the public meeting, contact Ms. Brenda
for Consumer and Certain Commercial • Hand Delivery/Courier: Ms. Brenda Edwards at (202) 586–2945 or by email:
Water Heaters to June 15, 2015. Edwards, U.S. Department of Energy, Brenda.Edwards@ee.doe.gov.
Additionally, at the request of Building Technologies Office, 950 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
stakeholders, DOE is announcing a L’Enfant Plaza SW., 6th Floor, Energy Policy and Conservation Act of
public meeting to discuss the Washington, DC 20024. Telephone: 1975 (EPCA), as amended by the
conversion factors for consumer and (202) 586–2945. If possible, please American Energy Manufacturing
commercial water heaters. submit all items on a CD, in which case Technical Corrections Act (AEMTCA),
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
DATES: Comments: The comment period it is not necessary to include printed Public Law 112–210, requires that DOE
for the NOPR for the Conversion Factor copies. establish a uniform efficiency descriptor
for Test Procedures for Consumer and No telefacsimilies (faxes) will be and accompanying test methods for
Certain Commercial Water Heaters accepted. For detailed instructions on covered residential water heaters and
published on April 14, 2015 (80 FR submitting comments and additional commercial water heating equipment
20116), is reopened. DOE will accept information on the rulemaking process, within one year of the enactment of
comments, data, and information see section V (Public Participation) of AEMTCA. (42 U.S.C. 6295(e)(5)(B))
regarding this NOPR before and after the the April 14, 2015 NOPR for the Further, beginning one year after the
VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:24 May 19, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\FR\FM\20MYP1.SGM 20MYP1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/80_FR_28947/page/1.svg)
![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 97 / Wednesday, May 20, 2015 / Proposed Rules 28851
date of publication of DOE’s final rule granting approximately 30-day comment (Enhanced licenses issued by these
establishing the uniform descriptor, period extension and announcing a States are clearly marked Enhanced or
EPCA requires that the efficiency public meeting. In this document, DOE Enhanced Driver’s License); a military
standards for covered water heaters to is reopening the comment period for the ID or other Federal government-issued
be denominated according to the NOPR for the Conversion Factor for Test Photo-ID card.
uniform efficiency descriptor Procedures for Consumer and Certain In addition, you can attend the public
established in the final rule (42 U.S.C. Commercial Water Heaters to midnight meeting via webinar. Webinar
6295(e)(5)(D)) and that DOE develop a of June 15, 2015 and will deem any registration information, participant
mathematical conversion factor for comments received by that time to be instructions, and information about the
converting the measurement of timely submitted. Also, DOE will host a capabilities available to webinar
efficiency for covered water heaters public meeting on Thursday, May 28, participants at: https://
from the test procedures and metrics 2015. Additional details on the public attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/
currently in effect to the new uniform meeting are provided in the DATES and 7036563622426238210 Participants are
energy descriptor. (42 U.S.C. ADDRESSES sections of this document. responsible for ensuring their systems
6295(e)(5)(E)(i)–(ii)). On July 11, 2014, DOE is not extending the compliance are compatible with the webinar
DOE published a final rule amending dates, which were set by statute based software.
the test procedure for residential and on the completion of various
Issued in Washington, DC, on May 12,
certain commercial water heaters that rulemakings. The test method will have 2015.
satisfied the AEMTCA requirements to been final for a year, and manufacturers
Kathleen B. Hogan,
develop a uniform efficiency descriptor should be able to test any new basic
models using that test method. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy
to replace the existing energy factor, Efficiency, Energy Efficiency and Renewable
thermal efficiency, and standby loss Furthermore, because the energy
Energy.
metrics. 79 FR 40542. Use of the conservation standards for residential
[FR Doc. 2015–12221 Filed 5–19–15; 8:45 am]
amended test procedure is required water heaters changed earlier this year,
DOE expects that very few, new basic BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
beginning on July 13, 2015, for new
testing. All representations must be models will be introduced in the
based on the amended test procedure as interim between July 13, 2015, and
when the conversion factor final rule is DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
of one year after the publication of a
final rule that establishes a effective. 10 CFR Part 430
mathematical conversion factor. On Public Participation
April 14, 2015, DOE published a NOPR [Docket Number EERE–2014–BT–STD–
All participants will undergo security
proposing mathematical conversion processing upon building entry. Any
0031]
factors for converting from the current participant with a laptop computer or
efficiency metrics (i.e., energy factor for RIN 1904–AD20
similar device (e.g., tablets), must
residential water heaters, and thermal undergo additional screening. Note that
efficiency and standby loss for Energy Conservation Program for
any foreign national who requests to Consumer Products: Energy
commercial water heaters) to the participate in the public meeting is
uniform efficiency descriptor (i.e., Conservation Standards for
subject to advance security screening Residential Furnaces
uniform energy factor metric). 80 FR prior to the date of the public meeting,
20116 (April 14, 2015). and such persons should contact Ms. AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and
In response to the NOPR for the Brenda Edwards as soon as possible at Renewable Energy, Department of
Conversion Factor for Test Procedures (202) 586–2945 to commence the Energy.
for Consumer and Certain Commercial necessary procedures. ACTION: Extension of public comment
Water Heaters, the Air-Conditioning, Due to the REAL ID Act implemented period.
Heating, and Refrigeration Institute by the Department of Homeland
(AHRI) requested a 60-day extension to Security (DHS), there have been recent SUMMARY: On March 12, 2015, the U.S.
the comment period, a public meeting, changes regarding identification (ID) Department of Energy (DOE) published
and a delay in compliance date for the requirements for individuals wishing to in the Federal Register a notice of
test procedure. AHRI stated in its enter Federal buildings from specific proposed rulemaking (NOPR) and
request that it needed additional time to States and U.S. territories. As a result, technical support document (TSD) that
analyze the specific conversion factors driver’s licenses from the following analyze the potential economic impacts
and underlying analysis, review the States or territory will not be accepted and energy savings that could result
water heater tests conducted by DOE to for building entry, and instead, one of from potential energy conservation
assess to what extent those tests the alternate forms of ID listed below standards for certain residential
reflected the range of models covered by will be required. furnaces. DOE published this NOPR and
the test procedure, and evaluate the DHS has determined that regular analysis so stakeholders can review and
validity of the conclusions derived from driver’s licenses (and ID cards) from the provide input on the relevant outputs
the testing conducted by DOE as following jurisdictions are not and the underlying assumptions and
provided in the conversion factors and acceptable for entry into DOE facilities: calculations. The comment period for
translated energy conservation Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, the NOPR pertaining to the subject
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
standards. After careful consideration of Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, residential furnaces was scheduled to
this request, DOE has determined that Minnesota, New York, Oklahoma, and end June 10, 2015. After receiving
extending the public comment period Washington. requests for additional time to comment,
by reopening to allow additional time Acceptable alternate forms of Photo- DOE has decided to extend the
for interested parties to submit ID include: U.S. Passport or Passport comment period for the NOPR
comments and that convening a public Card; an Enhanced Driver’s License or pertaining to the energy conservation
meeting are appropriate based on the Enhanced ID-Card issued by the States standards for residential furnaces until
foregoing reasons. Accordingly, DOE is of Minnesota, New York or Washington July 10, 2015.
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Document Created: 2018-02-21 10:29:38
Document Modified: 2018-02-21 10:29:38
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Proposed Rules | |
| Action | Reopening of the public comment period and announcement of public meeting. | |
| Dates | Comments: The comment period for the NOPR for the Conversion Factor for Test Procedures for Consumer and Certain Commercial Water Heaters published on April 14, 2015 (80 FR 20116), is reopened. DOE will accept comments, data, and information regarding this NOPR before and after the public meeting, but no later than June 15, 2015. | |
| Contact | Ms. Ashley Armstrong, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Building Technologies Office, EE-5B, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121. Telephone: (202) 586-6590. Email: [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 28850 | |
| RIN Number | 1904-AC91 | |
| CFR Citation | 10
CFR
429 10 CFR 430 10 CFR 431 |
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